Message from Mr. Trishit Banerjee

Please give a short introduction about yourself.

I am Trishit Banerjee and I am 19 years old. I was born and brought up in Ulhasnagar
(Central suburbs of Mumbai) inMaharashtra. Currently, I am a second-year undergraduate student
of Advanced Molecular Chemistry at Tohoku University underthe G30 FGL Program.

What is your favorite thing about Sendai?

I love the people and food of Sendai extremely! Sendai people are not like typical-city people. They
are kind and would love to spend time to talk to you. This is very uncommon in big cities like Tokyo
or Mumbai. I thoroughly enjoy Sendai’s Gyutan and Zunda. Such delicacies are rarely available
outside Japan. Together with people and good food, the living experience in Sendai is peaceful and
extremely satisfying.

In what way has your impression of Fukuoka or Japan changed since coming here?

I first visited Japan in 2014 under the MHRD, India and MOFA, Japan’s JENESYS 2.0 Program. I was the leader of the Indian contingent. That visit changed the way I looked at Japan. Indian people have a very favourable view of Japan. I always knew it is a developed country but I did not know that it has such rich heritage and culture and that it has preserved the same even in the face of westernisation. The precision and maturity of the Japanese society is an example to behold. It is highly unlikely to rediscover this culture anywhere else in the world. From simple packing designs at convenience stores to the large-heartedness and selfless passion (志) of Japanese people, it has been a great learning experience

What attracted you to choose Tohoku University as a place to study?

Unfortunately, Tohoku University or Japanese education is not popular in India. I knew about University of Tokyo and during the JENESYS 2.0 reunion party hosted at the Embassy of Japan, New Delhi, I met the UTokyo India Office director. I enquired about studying chemistry in english in Japan. That was the time he suggested me to look at Nagoya and Tohoku. Nagoya has chemical engineering but I wanted to study pure science and hence, the only option was Tohoku University. To apply for the same was a decision that I cherish everyday. The university’s history in cutting-edge research from flash memory and cradle of optical fibres to material sciences and space missions, it is a hotpot of human excellence, imagination and innovation.

In what way did you adjust yourself to Japanese culture?

Indian and Japanese culture are not very different. This is a very common aspect in pan-Asian culture. Back at home, removing shoes before entering the house has been a daily aspect of my life. I have grown up with the same. Fish, rice and sweet has been my staple diet since childhood as I am originally from the eastern coast of India. The cultural shocks came in the form of raw fish and public bathing. These two are nearly taboo subjects in India. Yet, I believe that everyone should have an open mind and be acceptable to other cultures. We have to learn to be accommodative as that is the foundation of internationalisation. I went with an open mind and slowly over a period of 3-4 months, I was able to adopt the Japanese culture completely. Peer influence also supports during this transition process but an open mind is the key.

Please give a message to students or researchers in your home country who may be thinking about studying in Japan?

For a long time in the history of education, US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have been the favorite destinations for education for Indian students. I want each one of you to expand your thoughts and horizons. The world has moved on a lot and it is high time that we adopt the ‘Look East’ policy as an Indian. Japan is no less than the west.
The education system is extremely open to all kinds of disruptive innovations and technology. The government walks the extra mile to support you financially so that you do not have any burdens while you pursue your dream subject. The people welcome you with open arms and you get a chance to learn from a culture that is not found anywhere in the world. So, stop thinking and choose Japan!